Protecting Children

In Ontario, it is the legal responsibility of Family and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County and Children’s Aid Societies to protect children and youth from abuse and neglect, however it is the legal duty of all members of our community to report suspected cases of abuse and neglect to us. If you know or suspect a child is in need of help or protection, please call us immediately: your prompt action could make the difference in the life of the child.

Call us day or night, 7 days a week at 1-800-265-8300 or 519-824-2410

What is abuse?

“Child abuse” includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect. It also addresses a pattern of abuse and risks of harm. Some definitions include:

Physical abuse is any deliberate physical force or action, by a parent or caregiver, which results, or could result, in injury to a child. This can include: bruising, cuts, slapping, beating, shaking, burning, biting, throwing a child or using objects to strike a child. Physical harm can also include a pattern of neglect in supervising, protecting, caring or providing for a child.

Signs of Physical Abuse

Signs of physical abuse include:

presence of various injuries

injuries inconsistent with child’s age

presence of several injuries that are in various stages of healing

child cannot recall how injuries occured

offers inconsistent explanation

wary of adults

flinch when touched unexpectedly

extremely aggressive

extremely withdrawn

indiscriminately seeks affection

Neglect occurs when a caregiver fails to provide basic needs such as adequate food, sleep, safety, education, clothing or medical treatment. It also includes leaving a child alone or failing to provide adequate supervision. If the caregiver is unable to provide the child with basic needs due to financial inability, it is not considered neglect, unless relief has been offered and refused. Neglect usually results from the lack of knowledge about appropriate care for children or an inability to plan appropriately for the child’s needs.

Signs of Neglect

Signs of neglect include:

poor hygiene

unattended physical problems or medical needs

consistent lack of supervision

frequent absence from school

engaged in delinquent acts

alcohol/drug abuse

frequently arriving at school without a lunch

inappropriate clothing for the weather

consistently dirty clothes

Emotional abuse is a pattern of behaviour that attacks a child’s emotional development and sense of self-worth. It includes excessive, aggressive or unreasonable demands that place expectations on a child beyond his or her capacity. Emotional abuse includes constantly criticizing, teasing, belittling, insulting, rejecting, ignoring or isolating a child. It may also include exposure to domestic violence.

Sexual abuse occurs when a child is used for the sexual gratification of an adult or an older child. The child may co-operate because he or she wants to appease the adult or out of fear. It includes sexual intercourse, exposing a child’s private areas, indecent phone calls, fondling for sexual purposes, allowing/forcing a child to look at or perform in pornography or engage in prostitution.

Signs of Sexual Abuse

Signs of sexual abuse include:

age-inappropriate play with toys, self or others

unusual or excessive itching in the genital or anal area

injuries to the genital or anal area

displaying explicit sexual acts

torn, stained or bloody underwear

age-inappropriate sexually explicit drawing or descriptions

bizarre, sophisticated or unusual sexual knowledge

prositituion

seductive behaviour

If you recognize any of these signs and suspect a child is in need of help, call us immediately:
1-800-265-8300 or 519-824-2410

Community Resources

As a member of the Guelph and Wellington County community, we are part of a larger network of community resources that are here to support children and their families. A list of these resources can be found here.